Warning: This article includes discussion of domestic violence.
If you or someone you know is struggling, c’mon contact theNational Domestic Violence Hotline.
(Sorry, Simon Cowell.)
Sami Drasin/NBC
The revamped rendition of the long-running NBC talent show, which will air on January 1 at 8 p.m.
I set up home here with my kids and put them in school in my hometown, Leeds.
I was like, Oh my God, this is perfect timing.
One of the biggest selling points?
The show’s new format, which will include 40 acts selected by voters.
These are the acts that everybody wants to see back, she says.
Her return toAGTis just one of many projects Mel B has going on in the new year.
The book gives an unfiltered look into her 10-year abusive relationship with ex-husband Stephen Belafonte.
[Belafonte previously denied abuse allegations toTMZ.]
As a result, shes dedicated much of her time to raising awareness around domestic violence.
I’m really, really proud of that.
For those unfamiliar with her work, she suggests picking up a copy.
When Prince William gave me my MBE, he was like, So this isn’t forSpice Girls?
It’s all about your awareness for domestic abuse?
He wanted to have a full conversation with me.
So that was really sweet, andVictoria [Beckham]dressed me and my mum for it.
Glamour:What can we expect from the new season ofAmericas Got Talent: Fantasy League?
That was really interesting.
Simon got the shortest draw, so he was always the last to pick.
And this year, which is funny, I’m actually sitting next to him.
In all the seven years I’ve done it before, I’ve never sat next to him.
But it’s been really lovely to be back in LA and hanging out withHeidi [Klum]again.
We’ve been having our girly sleepovers at her house where the boys are not invited.
Its been a really exciting time.
I’ve actually got my book coming out calledBrutally Honest.
It’s quite a dark topic, but I think it’s a very relevant topic.
There is such an epidemic of domestic violence and coercive control and abuse all over the world.
I released it in 2018, but I’ve added about five or six more chapters to it.
I’m really excited about it.
I’ve been working on that for most of the year, and obviously Spice Girls stuff.
So it’s been quite busy.
You mentioned Victoria Beckham dressed you and your mom for your MBE ceremony.
Are you and the Spice Girls still close?
What advice would you share with your daughters about confidence and self-image?
A lot of those images are retouched.
I got brought up the same way that I’m bringing my kids up.
You have to feel good about yourself.
You have to love the skin that you’re in.
You have to absolutely learn to love yourself.
It’s the classic saying, love yourself before anybody else could even begin to love you.
What has your fitness and wellness journey been like?
So I had to really kind of redo in my brain, Why am I working out now?
I’ve got no reason to leave the house and get away from that kind of situation.
I wanted to work out and make it something that was part of my every day.
I do a lot of outdoor walking.
I’ve got a portable ice bath that I fill up with water outside and put ice in it.
I do that a lot.
I take a stab at do things that are manageable.
But just see to it it’s not every single day of the week.
Ice baths have beengaining popularity recently.
So you don’t go into flight-or-fight mode.
you might sit in an ice bath and breathe really calmly.
Your body benefits so much; it makes your blood circulation healthier, lowers the risk for heart failure.
It gets all your toxins out and it just gives you that vitality.
Youve been one of my hair icons since I was a child.
What are some of your favorite hair products?
I had to go back to my roots.
So I let my natural hair grow out with the products that I used as a kid.
That got me thinking.
Why dont I just bring out my own range?
I actually managed to patent the words curl power.
They have 40 different types of mangoes, and mango is so good for your hair.
That should be out at some point next year.
My hair was so severely damaged and was falling out.
Watch out for that!
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
Jamie Wilson is a New Yorkbased beauty writer and editor.
you’re free to follow her on Instagram@justjamiemarie.
